Covington Gets Start For 'canes

November 23, 1996|By Randall Mell, Miami Bureau

CORAL GABLES — Scott Covington gets the chance he has yearned for today. The third-year sophomore will make his first start as a Miami quarterback when the Hurricanes meet Boston College in the Orange Bowl.

He has shown some impressive physical gifts off the bench in relief of Ryan Clement, who is hobbled by a sprained ankle. Covington has shown that his may be the strongest UM arm since Vinny Testaverde's. Now he's getting a chance to show the single, most important quality in a quarterback: That he can win.

''I'm ready,'' Covington said this week. ''I've been ready the past 10 weeks.''

Covington's biggest drawback was that he was recruited in the same class as third-year junior Clement, who moved ahead of Covington last year and never gave up the starter's role.

But Covington came off the bench to march the 'Canes to the goal line twice after Clement was hurt in Saturday's 21-7 loss to Virginia Tech, but both drives ended in interceptions.

''I moved the team pretty well, but unfortunately we could not get the ball in the end zone,'' Covington said. ''I think my teammates have all the confidence in the world in me. I think I do my part to bring about that confidence.''

Clement's ankle is still sore, but he has jogged on it, and UM coaches hope he's well enough that he could be used if Covington falls with an injury.